Suction cleaner



Feb. 16, 1937. sMELLlE 2,070,689

SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V1 9 INVENTOR fiafzald 61 Jilzellie ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1937. D. G. SMELLlE SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 pi wwmfm ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1937. SMELL: 2,070,689

SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet s ZCZJALMLT 3 19 lfx/musr 0:17:57

INVENTOR fiaizah'f filial/i0 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 22, 1934, Serial No. 731,797

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general, and particularly to new and novel means for converting a suction cleaner from a floor cleaning unit to an off-the-floor cleaning 5 unit. More specifically the invention comprises a suction cleaner incorporating new and novel conversion means which are capable of changing the functional operation of the machine so that suction may be present in the cleaner nozzle, or

10 in the cleaner dusting tools, or positive pressure may be provided in the dusting tools.

The principal function of a suction cleaner is to clean surface coverings. The cleaning of drapes and similar articles which are positioned 1 above the supporting surface is a second field of usefulness. Heretofore the eflicient floor cleaning suction cleaner has required a relatively complicated manual mechanical change when the operator desired to alter the machine for off-thefloor cleaning. If he also desired a blowing dusting tool, that is, if he desired that air be expelled from the dusting tools instead of drawn thereinto, a second relatively complicated alteration in the cleaner was required. The necessity for 25 these manual alterations restricted the usefulness of the cleaner. In the suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention the alteration from an on-the-floor cleaner to an off-the-fioor cleaner is a simple operation 30 requiring no attachment or detachment of parts to the cleaner. The machine in use in on-thefloor cleaning can be transformed immediately into an off-the-floor cleaner by merely moving the cleaner handle to a position which is out of 35 the range of normal handle movement. If the operator desires to use the dusting tools as a blowing unit it is only necessary to move the handle to a second position outside of the range of normal handle movement and the functional 4- relationship of the machine is altered to bring about the desired result.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a suction cleaner in which dusting tools are permanently incorporated. It is still another object of the invention to provide a suction cleaner including improved means to convert the cleaner from an on-the-floor cleaner to an oiT-the-floor 51) cleaner. A still further object is to provide a suction cleaner which is readily convertible from an on-the-floor cleaner to an off-the-fioor cleaner providing either suction or positive pressure in the cleaner dusting tools, the conversion re- 53 quiring no manual change of parts in the machine. Another object is the provision of a suction cleaner in which the alteration of the machine from an on-the-floor cleaner to an ofithe-floor cleaner is accomplished by a movement 6 of the cleaner handle. A still further object is the provision of a suction cleaner in which the conversion of the cleaner from an on-the-floor cleaner to an ofi-the-floqr cleaner is accomplished by movement of the handle, and is accompanied by an increase in the rotational speed of the motor. Still another object is to provide improvements in a suction cleaner whereby the cleaner nozzle is raised from the surface covering in certain conversions of the cleaner. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims, and upon considering in connection therewith, the attached drawings to which they relate.

In the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed:

Figure 1 is a front view of a suction cleaner body constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the complete cleaner showing the handle and the dusting tools carried thereby;

Figure 3 is a section upon the line of 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section through the cleaner nozzle upon the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section through the dusting tool hose retaining means and is taken upon the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the machine looking forward to the cleaner nozzle and upon the line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a section upon the line 1-1 of Figure 1 showing the valve operating mechanism;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the cleaner handle and valve mechanism in position to convert the machine to an off-the-floor cleaner having suction in the dusting tools;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 7 and 8, but with the cleaner handle advanced to a third position in which the valve mechanism has altered the cleaner to an ofiE-the-floor cleaning unit having positive pressure in dusting tools;

Figure 10 is a partialsection upon the line Ill-l0 of Figure 3;

Figure 11 is a section through the cleaner upon the line H--ll of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a partial side view of the cleaner disclosing the mechanism for raising the cleaner nozzle as the handle is moved from its on-thefloor range of movement to its ofi-the-fioor positions;

Figure 13 is a partial bottom view of the cleaner showing the mechanism of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of the relationship existing between the valves and the passageways in the cleaner when the cleaner functions as an on-the-floor cleaning unit;

Figure 15 is a second diagrammatic illustration showing the valve relationship when the cleaner functions as an oif-the-fioor unit with suction in the dusting tools;

Figure 16 is a third diagrammatic illustration showing the valve arrangement when the cleaner functions as an off-the-floor cleaning unit with positive pressure in the dusting tools;

Figure 17 is a partial side view of the cleaner showing a second preferred embodiment in which electrical switches, operated by handle movement, control the motor circuit to effect higher motor speeds with the cleaner in its off-the-floor relationship;

Figure 18 is a section upon the line l8I8 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a section upon the line l8-I9 of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the position in the electrical circuit of the handle-operated electrical switch which varies the motor speed when the machine is used in off-the-fioor cleaning.

In the suction cleaner constructed in accord ance with the present invention, as in the usual suction cleaner, cleaning air is drawn through a nozzle I by a rotating fan 2 positioned within a fan chamber 3 into which the nozzle I opens at the fan chamber eye 4. The fan is driven by an electric motor positioned within the motor casing 6 which abuts the fan chamber. The fan chamber 3 is provided with an exhaust outlet 1 to which a dust bag 8 is removably secured and which functions in the cleaning operation to filter foreign matter from the air expelled therein by the suction-creating means.

The cleaner is movably supported upon spaced front wheels 9, 9 and spaced rear wheels I0, I8, the front wheels being carried by a crank shaft II which pivotally mounts them upon the nozzle I.

The usual pivoted cleaner handle I2 is connected to the cleaner casing and provides means by which the operator can propel the machine over the surface covering undergoing cleaning, as well as functioning to support the upper end of the dust bag 8. The incoming power leads l3 also extend to the upper end of the handle l2 and, after passing through the manually operable switch I4, extend downwardly through the handle and into the motor casing 6 to be connected to the motor proper 5. Into this combination of elements which go to make up the modern suction cleaner, applicant has combined new elements and features, resulting in improved cleane1 operation and enlarging the field of cleaner usefulness.

The nozzle casing I in applicants invention'is provided with a transversely extending air passageway l5 which opens to' the interior of the nozzle immediately below the eye 4 of the fan chamber, as indicated at I6. This opening is normally closed by a valve ll which is pivotally carried by the nozzle upon the shaft 3, a coil spring I 9 being provided which normally urges valve I I into passageway closing relationship. Valve I1 is adapted to assume a second position, that indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4 and full lines in Figure 8, in which it opens the passageway I5 to the eye 4 of the fan chamber while closing-the mouth of the nozzle I therefrom.

At one of its ends air passageway I5 is provided with a rotatable L-shaped connector 20. To connector 20 is attached an elongated flexible dusting tool hose 2 I, a common and well-known type provided with a nozzle 22 at its opposite end. Hose 2| is adapted to be carried by the cleaner handle l2 in the operation of the machine in on-thefloor cleaning and to accomplish that function the handle I2 is provided near its lower end with a transverse arm 23 at the outer ends of which U- shaped spring clips 24, 24 are provided which are adapted to receive and seat grooved metallic rings 25,25 provided at suitable points on the hose. The hose is adapted to extend to a point near the upper end of the handle, in the manner shown in Figure 2, where a supporting hook 26, cooperating with a third groove-dring 25, supports the mid-portion of the hose. The dusting tool hose is permanently attached to the cleaner and is ready for use upon the detachment of the rings from the clips on the handle. Obviously suction is available to the hose through the passageway I5 when the valve I1 is positioned in the nozzle closing relationship which directly opens the passageway through the opening I6 to the eye 4 of the fan chamber.

The end of the passageway l5 spaced from the rotatable connector 20 comprises an opening 21 adjacent the exhaust I of the fan chamber. Opening 21, illustrated in Figure 3, is closed in the on-the-floor relationship of the cleaner by a second pivoted valve 28 carried by a shaft 29 formed with an offset inner end. As in the case of valve II a coil spring 30 is provided which functions normally to retain the valve in passageway closing relationship, as shown in Figure 10. Valve 28 is also a two-position valve and is adapted to be moved to the dotted line positions shown in Figure 3 in which opening 21 is uncovered and exhaust outlet I is sealed from the fan chamber. In this relationship obviously the fan exhausts directly through the opening 21 and into the passageway I5, and if the valve ll be in passageway closing relationship as it will be'with valve 28 so positioned, the positive pressure of the fan chamber is effective through passageway I5 and into the dusting tool hose 2|.

The presence in the cleaner of the two two-' position valves makes possible three functional relationships which are illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 14, 15 and 16. In Figure 14 the cleaner is illustrated in its normal on-the-floor cleaning relationship and valve i1 is seen to close passageway I5 and to open nozzle I directly to the eye of fan chamber 2, the air after passing out of fan chamber 2 passing directly to the exhaust outlet 1, the second valve 28 closing the passageway l5. In Figure 15 the cleaner is shown in its off-the-floor relationship in which the dusting tools are provided with suction. The valve H has been move-d to its nozzle-closing relationship so that air now enters the air passage- Way I5 from the dusting tools and is again exhausted from the fan chamber 2 directly to the exhaust outlet I leading to the dust bag. In third figure, Figure 16, valve ll has been returned to its position shown in Figure 14 and air enters the nozzle I and passes through the fan chamber 2. Valve 28 has been moved to exhaust outlet closing relationship so that air from the fan chamber passes into the air passageway I5 and so directly to dusting tools. To effect these three cleaning possibilities applicant has provided his cleaner with a novel valve actuating mechanism in which the valve positions are directly controlled by the position of the cleaner handle.

The cleaner handle I2 is forked at its lower end to form a bail which extends around the motor 6 and is pivoted upon pins 3|, 3i carried by the motor casing 6. Handle I2 is adapted to move from a horizontal position to a position slightly beyond the vertical. Handle positioned controlling means comprising an arcuate sector I 32 and a spring pressed roller detent 33 are provided, the former being carried by the handle and movable therewith. Sector 32 is formed along its edge as a detent contacting surface with a recess 34 which seats the detent when the handle is in the horizontal position to retain the handle in that position except upon the exertion of a greater-than-normal force upon the handle. Immediately adjacent the horizontal seat 34 is a sector or are 35 of appreciable angular spread which seats the detent 33 when the handle is in its working range in on-the-floor operation. Raised portions define the boundaries of this working range 35 and the handle is movable therefrom, as in the case of seat 34, only upon the exertion of a greater-than-normal pivoting force upon the handle. A third seat 36 is provided in sector 32 which seats the detent 33 with handle in substantially a vertical position, and a fourth seat 31 adjacent the third seat receives the detent when the handle extends slightly beyond the vertical and toward the nozzle end of the cleaner. The presence of the handle controlling means insures that the handle will not be displaced unintentionally from any of its positions.

Upon the opposite side of the cleaner from the handle controlling means and carried by one of two handle supporting pins 3|, 3| is a pivoted lever 38 which extends upwardly into pivotal re lationship with a sliding arm 39 which extends nozzle closing relationship.

forwardly, through a compartment 40 formed in the fan chamber casing but sealed from both the fan chamber and the exhaust outlet, to a position adjacent the extended end of shaft 8 on which the valve I1 is mounted. Adjacent the end of the arm 39 shaft |8 carries a single tooth gear 4| which is so arranged that the single tooth is con tacted by the arm 39 upon its forward movement in the direction of the nozzle. To accomplish this forward movement of the arm 39 the pivoted lever 38 is provided with an oifset end 42 which is positioned in the path of shoulder 43 on the handle |2. The lever 38 and arm 39 are normally retained in the rearward position shown in Figures 3 and 7 by the action of coil spring 44 carried by the pivot pin 3| of lever 38. Upon the upward pivoting of handle |2 beyond the working range to vertical position, however, offset end 42 of lever 38 is contacted by shoulder 13 and lever 38 is pivoted forwardly, moving arm 39 into contact with gear 4| and resulting in the rotation of shaft |8 suficiently to rotate valve ill from its passageway closing relationship to This movement of the handle and the attendant movement of valve I! is well illustrated in Figures '7 and 8. With the handle in the vertical position, shown in Figure 8, air is drawn through the dusting tools, through the air passageway l5, and into the fan chamber 2 from whence it is exhausted into the exhaust outlet 1. The functional relationship in short is that shown diagrammatically in Figure "15. As in all positions the handle is prevented from accidental displacement by the controlling means and more specifically by the roller detent 33 seating in the seat 36.

If the operator desires to blow air through the dusting tools instead of drawing it into them the handle I2 is pivoted forwardly from vertical position, shown in Figure 8, to the over-vertical position, shown in Figure 9. This movement of the handle results in the release of the gear 4| and the return of valve II to its original passageway closing position under the action of the coil spring I 9, the arm 39 having reached its extreme forward position, in which the recess 48 formed in 'the underside of the arm is directly over the gear 4|, In this relative position of the gear 4| to the recess 48 the single tooth of the gear rotates in the recess under the influence of spring l9, thereby returning the valve H to its original passage sealing position. The movement of the arm 39, as the handle moved from the vertical to the over-vertical position, has had an additional result in that the second valve 28 has been moved from its sealing relationship with the opening 21 of air passageway l5 into sealing relationship with the exhaust outlet 1. This result has been accomplished by the pivoting of the valve carrying shaft 29, the offset end 46 of which has been contacted by an offset shoulder 41 projecting from the side of the arm 39 at its uppermost part. With valve 28 so positioned, the air exhausted by the fan passes through the opening 21 into the air passageway l5 and so to the dusting tools, the air having entered the fan chamber from the nozzle, the valve being positioned to accomplish that result, as stated.

On the return of the handle |2 from the oververtical position to the vertical, the forward end of the arm 39 rides over the tooth of gear 4|, assuming the position illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 9, this movement of the arm 39 being made possible by the fact that it is spring-pressed downwardly in its contact with its guiding slots in the sidewalls of the compartment 48 by a spring-pressed contact which bears against the upper wall of the compartment. As the forward edge of the arm 39 slides over the tooth of gear 4| the spring of contact 45 is compressed and the arm raised to the dotted line position as the arm recedes rearwardly until it resumes its position shown in Figure 8 having by this time dropped down to the limit of its guiding slot.

When the cleaner is used as an ofi-the-fioor cleaner with positive pressure in the dusting tools, the valve relationship being as shown diagrammatically in Figure 16, it is desirable that the cleaner nozzle be lifted sufficiently above the surface covering upon which it is positioned that it will be impossible for that covering to be drawn across the mouth of the nozzle as such action would materially reduce the flow of air into the nozzle. To prevent this occurrence a pivoted lever 50 is provided which slidingly encloses an offset crank 5| in the wheel carrying crank shaft H which is itself normally held by a coil spring 52 in the uppermost position permitted by the slotted vertical arm 53 which encloses it. Manually adjustable means 54 provide means for the operator to raise and lower arm 53, and so wheels 9, 9, in on-the-floor operation. The handle I2 is provided near its pivot point with an inwardly extending pin 55, see Figures 12 and 13, which is adapted to contact the extended end of the lever 58 as the handle is moved from the vertical to the over-vertical position, resulting in the pivoting of the lever 50 downwardly at the crank shaft H and further resulting in the lowering of wheels 9, 9 from the full line position shown in Figure 12 to an extent such as that shown in dotted line in the same figure. With the nozzle supporting wheels so lowered the nozzle is correspondingly raised and there is no possibility that the surface covering positioned below the nozzle will be raised by nozzle suction.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, in addition to the desirable features already described, means have been incorporated to increase the motor speed as the machine is converted from an on-the-floor cleaner to .an oif-the-fioor cleaner. Increase in motor sp ed results in increased fan speed and consequently higher suctions. This modification of the invention is well illustrated in Figures 17 to 20, inclusive. According to this embodiment a handle operated switch 56 is mounted upon the side of the motor casing 6 in such position .that its operating trigger 51 is adapted to be contacted by a contact plate 58 on the handle as the handle is moved to the vertical or to the over-vertical positions. Switch 56 is a two position switch and is adapted to connect an incoming power lead l3 to either a normal low speed tap or a high speed tap on' the motorfield, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 20. The normal position of the switch connects the line to the low speed tap but the operation of the switch by the handle opens the line to the low speed tap and connects it to the high speed. The switch automatically connects the low speed tap to the line upon the removal of the handle from the vertical or over-vertical positions.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner propelling handle, suction creating means, floor cleaning means connected to a point of low pressure in said suction creating means, ofi-the-fioor cleaning means connectible to a point of low pressure and to a point of high pressure of said suction creating means, and valve means operated by said handle selectively connecting said .fioor cleaning means and said off-the-floor cleaning means to said point of low pressure and said offthe-fioor cleaning means to said point of high pressure.

2. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized in that said handle is movable between certain limits and by the further fact that means operatively connect said handle to said valve means to cause said valve means to seal said floor cleaning means from and to open said ofi-the-floor cleaning means to said point of low pressure upon the movement of said handle to a certain position.

3. The construction recited by the second preceding claim characterized in that said handle is movable between certain limits and by the further fact that means operatively connect said handle to said valve means to cause said valve means to seal said oif-the-fioor cleaning means from said point of low pressure and to connect it to said point of high pressure upon the movement of said handle to a certain position.

4. In a suction cleaner, suction creating means, a floor nozzle, a dusting tool hose, valve means to open and close said dusting tool hose to and from points of high and low pressure in said suction creating. means, and means operated bythe connection of said dusting tool hose to a point of high pressure to raise said nozzle above the supporting surface.

5. In a suction cleaner, a movable cleaner propelling handle, suction creating means, a floor nozzle, a dusting tool hose, valve means to open and close said dusting tool hose to and from points of high and low pressure in said suction creating means, said valve means connected to said handle to be positioned thereby, and means operated by movement of said handle to raise said nozzle above the supporting surface when the movement of said handle is such as to effect the connection of said dusting tool hose to a point of high pressure.

6. In a suction cleaner, a movable handle, suction creating means including a driving motor, a floor nozzle, a dusting tool hose, valve means selectively connecting said nozzle and. said hose to said suction creating means, said valve means connected to said handle to be operated thereby, and means operated by the movement :of said handle to certain positions to cause said motor to rotate at increased speed.

7. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized in that said handle is movable to positions inside and outside its normal working range and in that movement thereof to certain positions outside said range, functions to connect said hose to said suction creating means and to operate said means to cause said motor to rotate at increased speed.

8. The construction recited by the second preceding claim characterized in that the last-mentioned means comprise a switch ina circuit of said motor, said switch being operated by said handle to close said circuit to change the electrical characteristics of said motor to produce increased speed.

9. In a suction cleaner, suction creating means having a point of low pressure and a point of high pressure, a fioor nozzle connected to said point of low pressure, a dust bag connected to said point of high pressure, a dusting tool passageway 'connectible to said points of high and low pres-'- sure, a valve selectively connecting said floor nozzle or said passageway to. said point of low pressure, a second valve selectively connecting said dust bag or said passageway to said point of high pressure, said valves being positioned outside said fan chamber, and means to operate said valves.

10. In a suction cleaner, suction creating means having a point of low pressure and a point of high pressure, a floor nozzle connected to said point of low pressure, a dust bag connected to said pointof high pressure, a dusting tool passageway connectible to said points of high and low pressure, a valve positioned outside said fan chamber normally sealing said passageway from said point of low suction but movable to open said passageway thereto and seal said nozzle therefrom, a second valve positioned outside said fan chamber normally sealing said passageway from said point of high pressure but movable to open said passageway thereto and seal said dust bag therefrom.

11. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized in that means are provided to operate said valves in a definite sequence.

12. The construction recited by the second preceding claim characterized in that adjustable means are provided to operate the first valve upon movement of said means to a first position of adjustment and to operate the second valve upon movement of said means to a second position of adjustment, the first; valve returning to its normal position upon the movement of said adjustable means to said second position.

13. In a suction cleaner adapted for on-thefloor and off-the-floor operation, a cleaner prooperated by the movement of said handle to raise said nozzle.

DONALD G. SMELLIE. 

